The sun shone brightly over the Hidden Leaf Village as Kikidori followed Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki from a distance. They were heading to the training grounds, their laughter and banter filling the air. Kikidori smirked to himself as he watched them. Despite his frequent spats with Boruto, he couldn't deny that he was curious about what his brother was up to.
As the trio reached the training grounds, Kikidori decided to make his presence known. He strolled in confidently, hands in his pockets, his trademark grin plastered across his face.
"Oh look, the wannabe ninja club is meeting again," Kikidori teased, his voice dripping with mockery.
Boruto groaned, rolling his eyes. "What are you doing here, Kikidori? Don't you have your own training to do?"
"I'm just here to make sure you're not embarrassing the Uzumaki name," Kikidori retorted, smirking.
Sarada adjusted her glasses, her gaze sharp. "Kikidori, if you're going to stand around and be annoying, you might as well leave. We're here to train, not listen to your endless bragging."
Kikidori's grin widened as he turned his attention to Sarada. "Oh, come on, Sarada. Don't tell me you think you've got what it takes to become Hokage. You can barely see without those glasses of yours!"
Sarada's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward, her voice firm. "And what makes you think you're more qualified, Kikidori? You're just a loudmouth with a big ego. Being Hokage isn't about boasting; it's about earning respect and making sacrifices."
Kikidori crossed his arms, his confidence unshaken. "Respect? Sacrifices? Please. I'm already stronger than you, Sarada. I'll become Hokage long before you ever have a chance to sit in that chair."
Boruto groaned again, stepping between them. "Here we go... Another pointless argument. You two are like oil and water."
Mitsuki tilted his head, his ever-calm demeanor shining through. "It's interesting, though. Both of you seem so sure of yourselves. Maybe a little sparring match would settle things?"
Sarada's lips curled into a smirk. "Fine by me. I could use the practice, and it'll be satisfying to knock some sense into Kikidori."
Kikidori laughed, cracking his knuckles. "Bring it on, four eyes."
Just as they were about to square off, a deep voice cut through the tension like a kunai through paper.
"Four eyes, huh?"
Kikidori froze as the unmistakable presence of Sasuke Uchiha stepped out from the shadows. He had been watching the entire exchange, his expression unreadable.
Sarada's face lit up. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
Sasuke's gaze shifted to Kikidori, his tone calm but firm. "I was curious about your training, Sarada. But now I see there's something more entertaining going on."
Kikidori swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of his words. "Uh... I didn't mean anything by it, Lord Sasuke. Just a friendly joke."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his presence alone enough to make Kikidori feel like he was under a genjutsu. "Friendly, huh? If you're going to be Hokage, Kikidori, you should probably learn to choose your words more carefully. Respect is earned, not demanded."
Sarada smirked triumphantly, crossing her arms. "Thanks, Dad."
Kikidori sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Sorry, Sarada."
Sasuke nodded approvingly before turning to his daughter. "Let's see how your training is progressing. Show me what you've got."
Sarada's eyes sparkled with determination as she stepped forward, ready to prove herself. Kikidori, Boruto, and Mitsuki watched as she and Sasuke began a sparring session, their movements swift and precise.
Boruto leaned over to Kikidori, whispering, "You're lucky he didn't pull out his sword."
Kikidori glared at his younger brother. "I could've handled it."
"Sure you could," Boruto said with a laugh.
As the sun began to set, the training session wrapped up, and the group prepared to head home. Kikidori couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Sarada. Despite their arguments, she was undeniably talented and driven.
As they walked back to the village, Kikidori glanced at Sarada and muttered, "Hey... You're not bad. For a Uchiha, I mean."
Sarada raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, Kikidori. You're not so bad yourself. For an Uzumaki."
The group laughed, the earlier tension replaced by camaraderie. Despite their differences, they were all connected by their shared dreams and the bonds they were forming.
The End of Chapter 3